Deciphering the Role of Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycans in Health and Disease Aggrecan and versican: two brothers close or apart

Aggrecan (Acan) and versican (Vcan) are large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix. They share the same structural domains at both N- and C-termini. The N-terminal G1 domain binds hyaluronan (HA), forms an HA-rich matrix, and regulates HA-mediated signaling. The C-terminal G3 domain binds other extracellular matrix molecules and forms a supramolecular structure that stores transforming growth factor 8 (TGF8) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and regulates their signaling. EGF-like motifs in the G3 domain may directly act like an EGF ligand. Both Acan and Vcan are present in cartilage, intervertebral disc, brain, heart, and aorta. Their localizations are essentially reciprocal. This review describes their structural domains, expression patterns and functions, and regulation of their expression.

Automated summary

This article describes the structural domains, expression patterns, functions, and regulation of expression of Acan and Vcan, which are important proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix. They play crucial physiological roles, including regulating signal transduction and cell-cell interactions.